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Church, community mourns loss of local organist, Sam Keeney

Samuel Keeney died on Saturday at his home. He was 71.

By STEPHANIE REIGHART Daily Record/Sunday News

Updated:
11/12/2012 01:09:34 PM EST

In this 2002 photo, Sam Keeney, one of the original members of the Versetones, laughs with his fellow group members about a funny memory during a meeting to plan their farewell concert in the basement studio of Sam Keeney Organ and Piano Center, Inc. in York Township. (File photo -- The York Daily Record/Sunday News)

York, PA -

Samuel Keeney's life was filled with music.

He started playing the accordion at age 9, and studied the organ and other instruments as a teenager.

He shared his love of music through teaching organ lessons, playing for area churches and running a music shop.

Ed Rossman was a faithful customer at Sam Keeney Organ and Piano Center Inc. He bought his first organ from Keeney in 1976 at the York Township store.

"Over the years I probably bought five or six organs and seven or eight keyboards from Sam," Rossman said. "I don't know anyone who didn't like Sam."

Keeney's store closed in 2009.

After high school in 1960, Keeney started playing the organ for Christ Lutheran Church in Springfield Township.

Since 1966, he was the organist at Codorus Church of the Brethren in York Township.

"He was the most talented organist I've ever heard in my life," said the Rev. Rick Fischl of the Codorus church.

In January 1977, an arson fire destroyed the Calvary United Methodist Church in York, along with its organ, said the Rev. J. Thomas Shelley of Zion (Shaffer's) United Lutheran Church in an email.

Shelley's parents bought a replacement organ from Keeney. In 1984, Calvary decided to replace the organ and donated it to Bittersville United Methodist Church in Windsor Township.

Keeney inspected the instrument before it was moved and deemed it unsuitable, Shelley recalled.

He offered to trade the organ for a better instrument at no cost, which has served the Bittersville congregation well for years, Shelley said.

Fischl received multiple phone calls on Sunday from people touched by Keeney's kindness asking if the obituary was a misprint in the newspaper, he said.

A funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Codorus Church of the Brethren.

"We have room for 300, but that's not going to be enough room," Fischl said.

Keeney's joyful attitude was contagious, as well as his deep, abiding faith, Fischl said. Those who knew Keeney will go on with their lives, he said, "with part of it inspired by Sam."